All programs you're considering really needs to work up to a fully recognised major exam as an end-result - not some little 'in-house' plaque for your wall. Only nationally recognised qualifications from the likes of Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco and CompTIA will be useful to a future employer.

It's quite a normal occurrence for students not to check on a vitally important element - how their company breaks up the courseware elements, and into how many parts. You may think it logical (with training often lasting 2 or 3 years to pass all the required exams,) for your typical trainer to courier a single section at a time, as you pass each element. However: Often, the staged breakdown pushed by the company's salespeople doesn't suit all of us. You may find it a stretch to finalise all the sections at the speed required?

To avoid any potential future issues, it's normal for most trainees to request that all their modules (now paid for) are delivered immediately, and not in stages. You can then decide at what speed and in which order you'd like to work.

A subtle way that course providers make extra profits is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course then giving it 'Exam Guarantee' status. It looks like a good deal, but is it really:

Clearly it's not free - you are paying for it - it's just been included in your package price. It's everybody's ambition to qualify on the first attempt. Progressively working through your exams one at a time and paying as you go makes it far more likely you'll pass first time - you revise thoroughly and are mindful of the investment you've made.

Do the examinations somewhere local and go for the best offer you can find when you're ready. What's the point in paying early for examination fees when there's absolutely nothing that says you have to? Huge profits are netted by organisations getting paid upfront for exams - and then hoping that you won't take them all. Re-takes of previously unsuccessful exams through training course providers with an 'Exam Guarantee' are monitored with tight restrictions. You'll be required to sit pre-tests to make sure they think you're going to pass.

Prometric and VUE exams are around 112 pounds in this country. Why spend so much more on charges for 'Exam Guarantees' (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

Student support is absolutely essential - look for a package offering 24x7 direct access to instructors, as anything else will annoy you and definitely put a damper on the speed you move through things. Many only provide email support (too slow), and so-called telephone support is normally just routed to a call-centre which will take the information and email an instructor - who'll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, at a time suitable for them. This is no good if you're stuck and can't continue and can only study at specific times.

The very best programs tend to use an internet-based 24x7 package involving many support centres over many time-zones. You will be provided with a single, easy-to-use environment which switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres irrespective of the time of day: Support when it's needed. Don't accept second best with the quality of your support. The majority of students who fall by the wayside, would have had a different experience if they'd got the right support package in the first place.

Massive developments are coming via technology in the near future - and it becomes more and more thrilling each day. Technological changes and connections on the web will radically change our lives over the coming years; to a vast degree.

Let's not ignore salaries also - the average salary over this country as a whole for the usual man or woman in IT is a lot more than in other market sectors. It's a good bet that you'll receive a much better deal than you could reasonably hope to get in other industries. Because the IT market sector is still increasing at an unprecedented rate, it's looking good that the requirement for certified IT specialists will continue to boom for decades to come.

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